The NBA Draft is often a hotspot for transactions, but the 2022 draught was exceptionally frantic. There were several transactions between competitive teams vying for better choices and rebuilding organizations auctioning off components for future consideration. The New York Knicks’ Kemba Walker experiment has ended after only one season. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Knicks dealt Walker to the Detroit Pistons along with center Jalen Duren, who was chosen 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA draught on Thursday.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons traded the Hornets a 2025 first-round selection via the Milwaukee Bucks in the transaction. The Knicks’ compensation was not disclosed, but NBA insider Marc Stein suggested that the move was undertaken to save money in order to pursue free agency, Jalen Brunson. Walker may potentially be purchased out and remain a free agent, according to Wojnarowski.
Kemba Walker was recruited by the Knicks in what was expected to be a successful return again for a New York native in the last offseason. He became a free agent after getting a release from the Oklahoma City Thunder, who obtained him in a trade with the Boston Celtics earlier in the summer.
Walker was dropped from the Knicks’ starting lineup on Nov. 27 due to a sluggish start. In 18 starts, the four-time All-Star was producing 11.7 points and 3.1 assists on 42.9 percent shooting.
Walker returned to the starting lineup on December 18 after a string of injuries and unavailability due to health and safety rules. In six starts, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the three-point range. Despite the hype, the biggest name to switch clubs on Thursday night was guard Kemba Walker, who was traded from the New York Knicks to the Detroit Pistons as the Knicks completed a flurry of transactions.
Kemba Walker became the sixth player in NBA history to post a triple-double on Christmas Day, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 12 assists in a 101-87 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Walker missed nine games from December 31 to January 17 due to a knee ailment. In recent years, the 32-year-old has struggled with durability. In each of the last three seasons, he has skipped at least 16 games.
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